Winter's darkness will break soon - you may have even noticed it being lighter for a little longer each evening. Daylight savings time will begin in just a few weeks, and in another month we will be emerging into Spring. Now is a good opportunity to get yourself ready for the Spring and Summer, if you haven't already. Most people have the goal of looking good in warmer weather's lighter clothes -- but if you garden, your body will appreciate your efforts to get more flexible and to gain strength so you can move dirt. Get ready for those physical tasks.
Find something fun to do. Take a walk, or try something new. You'll be so glad you did! I love it when people discover the joy of movement. I'm in the business of helping people find their inner strength. It's not just about stronger muscles. There's a lot to say about the strength in believing in your ability to achieve something. That is why I learned hoopdance, so I could teach others the simple joy of finding movement. Recently I studied a new technique using the hoop. It is a fit class that incorporates waist hooping (fun) and your own body resistance in a format that allows each person to tailor it to their own ability. There is power in using your own body to increase your level of fitness.
Kick it up a notch this Spring. You can! Learn more at my blog www.youhavemoxie.com
We are mid-session in the year's first hoopdance class, with 3 remaining. Classes are viewable at www.youhavemoxie.com. However, the dance studio is having its winter break the week of February 20, so I will not be holding class that week -- no class 20th and no class the 22nd -- unless hoopers are wanting to come anyway, in which case I will set up an arrangement with the studio owner. Thank you!
Life can throw you down pretty hard. How YOU react to that is rooted in your eventual success. We all have things that jump in our way of what we want. Some are more serious than others. But the truth is, no one is perfect, no one is barrier-free. I've experienced disappointment, adversity and various physical issues lately myself. While disappointment can hurt, I want you to know that I am here still to guide you through your own obstacles to quitting smoking, losing weight, being more active, eating more healthy. You're never alone, especially with someone who understands what it's like to not succeed the first time, second time, third time, or a fourth time. When the dust settles, I'm standing there with you, ready to go again.
We can do this together.
We have high speed internet. Guaranteed pizza delivery or it's free. Quick oil changes. Instant messages. Microwavable anything. It's no wonder you get discouraged when the scale seemingly doesn't budge, or you grapple with something you're learning.
I believe that the speed at which you accomplish something is not nearly as important as persevering in the journey of whatever it is you seek. It's as true for learning a new skill as it is for achieving a new fitness goal or losing weight. Speed is usually not with us in these pursuits, but they're still worthy goals. Even more sweet when we achieve them. I say "when", because when you persevere, you will achieve that goal. You CAN. Give up, and you guarantee it won't happen.
A while back I mentioned a journey of my own. I had set myself a task to work on my hoopdance skills in order to be awarded my first hoopdance certification. It took longer than I planned, mostly due to scheduling setbacks, but I remained focused and around Thanksgiving I asked my mentor where I was at in my progress and she was happy with the skills I presented and passed the word on. Now I am very happy to say that I have my very own Hoopnotica certified teacher certificate.
I am gearing up and looking forward to bringing the joy of hula hooping to other unsuspecting people, in early spring. The creativity is flowing, as I work on my own hula hoop color designs and the first prototypes of hula hoop gear. I have so many ideas and so much hope. And to think that all of this is possible, because I was "open" to trying something new. You can do it too.
What are you thinking....... "make the pants fit"? Retool your thought process a bit... Make your life FIT. Healthy. That's what I'm getting at. Also try this one: make it fit into your schedule. Hmmm? Switch your focus from weight and the scale if that's why you're here, and pour your efforts into simply moving more and eating healthy. While you're busy with that, the rest will follow. And I do mean busy. I want you to find the smallest holes in your scheduled life, and squeeze exercise into it. You'll be surprised at how great you feel from having followed through on a goal (to exercise more) but also it's a bit of a natural drug. True story, personally tested: A recent Friday didn't start out as planned and ultimately by midday I was frustrated and grouchy. My workout time shrunk as a result of the morning's events but I didn't let it go. I found a treadmill, and I gave it 20 focused, hard-working minutes.Stress? What stress? Exercise makes you feel better in many ways. Find the time for it no matter what -- make it fit. I can do it, you can do it.Believe in yourself!
Sometimes an idea comes at you from unlikely places. When it does, you have to be ready to accept it. I think it's important to keep an open mind and try things that are outside your comfort zone, because you never know where it will take you. Such a thing happened to me this spring. I was wandering the mall and taking a mental break. I stopped in a store where I get most of my fitness pants, just to say hello and see what's been new. This is a likely place for me, but what was unlikely was that soon after arriving, I had a hula hoop around my waist and I was hooping in the middle of the store. I hated hula hoops as a kid. They didn't work, always fell down, made me feel stupid, etc. But here I was, in a public place, hooping and having fun. It stayed up. "This could be good", I thought. I bought one. Soon after, I was driving to a city studio once a week to take a "hoopdance" class from a certified instructor. She is inspiring. Apparently! Three weeks into my new exercise, I found myself at a hall in Detroit, with the goal to become a certified hoop instructor myself. It was a bit intimidating being around other students who were more experienced than me, but I stayed focused and stepped up to the plate. I studied the manual and practiced, and passed the exam. I'm spending the summer honing my skills and this Fall I hope to introduce hula hoop exercise to moms and daughters, 9 to 5-ers, yogis, and everyone in between. It's a benefit I can offer my personal training clients and others I haven't met yet, who may be shy about weight lifting but active in group exercise. I am looking forward to this new opportunity to spread my message of activity, continuous movement and a healthy life to a wider audience of people. It's why I do what I do.Take care... you can do it! Believe in yourself. That's the most important thing. :-)
